Comments

MLB Picks

MLB Pick: Miami Marlins, Cincinnati Reds ‘under’ 7½

In one of several games Thursday night where top pitching prospects square off against each other, Jose Fernandez of the Marlins takes on Tony Cingrani of the Reds in Cincinnati.

Look for a low scoring battle of young studs on Thursday night when Jose Fernandez and the Miami Marlins (3-12, 1-5 away) pay a visit to Tony Cingrani and the Cincinnati Reds (8-7, 7-2 home) in the first game of a four-game series from Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH at 7:10 ET.

Not much has gone right for the Marlins in the early going, although that is not really surprising given the offense was left bare by an off-season fire sale. Miami is currently dead last in the Major Leagues in runs scored with 2.13 per game and also dead last in the majors in batting average at .209.

Just about the lone highlight though has been the performance of Fernandez, who is regarded to have one of the best live arms in all of baseball. The 20-year-old right-hander from Cuba made his Major League debut vs. the New York Mets on April 7th and allowed just one run on three hits in five innings with eight strikeouts, and he was just as impressive in his second start vs. the Philadelphia Phillies, allowing two hits in six shutout innings with five punch-outs.

The former first round draft pick in 2011 has made a quick ascension to the majors because besides having a live fastball, he also consistently throws his curveball and change up for strikes, a fact that has big league scouts drooling and also has hitters flabbergasted through two starts. Fernandez may not win many games this season because the Miami offense is so inept, but he certainly seems to have a nice long career in front of him barring injury.

The Reds are coming off of a three-game sweep of the Phillies to go to 8-7, good enough for second place in the National League Central at just one-half game behind the St. Louis Cardinals. They did get a bit of bad news recently though with Johnny Cueto having to go on the Disabled List with a back injury.

Enter the 23-year-old left-hander Cingrani, who is taking Cueto’s spot in the rotation. Cingrani was a September call-up last season and he impressed in three relief appearances for the Reds, allowing one run on four hits in five innings with a very nice nine strikeouts. One of those relief outings came vs. these Marlins when he struck out three batters in 1.1 scoreless innings allowing one hit.

Cingrani was also awesome at AAA so far this season, striking out a whopping 26 batters while recording 14.1 scoreless innings, and he certainly draws a weak-hitting opponent for his first Major League start.

Look for both youngsters to have continued success and for this contest to stay ‘under’ on Thursday.